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Three Kingdoms relics discovered near ‘Acha Fortress’

Posted September. 08, 2016 07:27,   

Updated September. 08, 2016 07:49

Three Kingdoms relics discovered near ‘Acha Fortress’
Relics from the Three Kingdoms period of Korea, including drainage facility from Shilla and earthenware from Goguryeo, have been discovered en masse at Acha Mountain Fortress (historical site No. 234) in Seoul’s Gwangjin district

According to the Gwangjin ward office on Wednesday, Yeonhwamun-wadang, or lotus pattern roof tile decoration of Goguryeo, has been discovered at southern wall and interior wall of the Acha Mountain Fortress. The recently-discovered wadang is identical to the wadang that was excavated at Hongryeonbong Boru (sentinel deck) 1, a relic of the Goguryeo Kingdom near the Acha fortress.

External wall buttress facilities, which are characteristics of Shilla architectures, and drainage holes (3 places) have been discovered at 90-meter exterior wall of the Acha fortress' south wall, while water entry holes (2) have been found on the interior wall. Chiseong including interior and exterior walls and square-shape facilities have been identified at Mangdaeji (sentinel post). Excavators suspect that commanders inspected and commanded their soldiers at the top of the Mangdaeji during the Three Kingdoms period.

Diverse forms of roof tiles have also been unearthed around the Mangdaeji, including more than 10 Yeonhwamun-wadang and various patterned materials from Shilla. Notably, a roof tile inscribed with the phrase "Bukhan Mount Fortress" has been discovered for the first time, which is drawing keen attention. The newly discovered articles have proven the theory that after Shilla occupied the Han River area, the kingdom changed the name of Acha into Bukhan.

Since last year, the Gwangjin ward office has been excavating south wall and 4575-sq. meter area around the drainage hole within the Acha fortress in collaboration with the Korea Institute of Archeological Environment and funding from the Cultural Heritage Administration.



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